A scanning apparatus and method for entering a user input into the apparatus uses a non-electrical control device having a target undersurface, which can be manually manipulated to a particular setting. The particular setting of the non-electrical control device is determined by processing an image of at least a portion of the target undersurface captured by a scan sensor of the scanning apparatus.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. An apparatus comprising: a movable user input including a pattern on an undersurface; a scan sensor configured to capture image data of the undersurface; and a controller configured to process the captured image data of the undersurface to identify the pattern on the undersurface and determine a position of the movable user input based on the identified pattern.
A scanning apparatus uses a movable user input (like a dial or slider) that has a pattern on its underside. A scan sensor (like a camera) captures an image of this pattern. A controller (like a processor) then analyzes the image to identify the specific pattern. Based on the identified pattern, the apparatus determines the current position or setting of the user input. This allows the apparatus to understand the user's intended command or setting without electrical connections to the control.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pattern is identified by examining a particular portion of the pattern over a fixed position.
The scanning apparatus described above identifies the pattern on the movable user input by examining a specific, fixed area of the pattern's image. Instead of analyzing the entire image, it looks at a defined portion of the pattern that is consistently positioned relative to the sensor when the user input is in different positions. This simplifies image processing and speeds up the determination of the user input's setting.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the movable user input is a first movable user input, the apparatus further comprising: a second movable user input aligned with the first movable user input along a control scan line.
The scanning apparatus as described previously, features a second movable user input aligned with the first movable user input. The two inputs are positioned along a common control scan line. This allows the scanning apparatus to interpret multiple settings using a single scan sensor. For example, one input could control a quantity, while the second input controls a type.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first movable user input is a rotary dial and the second movable user input is a sliding arm.
In the scanning apparatus with two movable user inputs, described above, the first movable user input is a rotary dial and the second movable user input is a sliding arm. These different types of controls offer diverse input methods for the user. The system determines the settings of both the dial and the slider arm through image analysis of their respective undersurface patterns.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to align the scan sensor with a calibration strip located between the movable user input and a scanning region.
In the scanning apparatus described above, the controller also aligns the scan sensor using a calibration strip located between the movable user input and the main scanning region (where documents are scanned). This calibration ensures accurate pattern recognition by correcting for any slight misalignments or variations in the sensor's positioning. This pre-scan calibration ensures proper input reading.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a scanning region including a glass panel; and a user interface region including the movable user input, wherein the scan sensor is configured to operate in a first resolution in the scanning region and a second resolution in the user interface region, wherein the second resolution is lower than the first resolution.
The scanning apparatus described earlier includes a scanning region (with a glass panel) for document scanning and a separate user interface region containing the movable user input. The scan sensor operates at a high resolution in the scanning region for detailed document capture, and at a lower resolution in the user interface region. Using different resolutions optimizes performance by reducing processing load when reading the user input position.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a scanning region including a glass panel and a user interface region including the movable user input, wherein the scan sensor includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein the scan sensor is configured to scan the scanning region using the plurality of light emitting diodes and configured to scan the user interface region using a subset of the plurality of light emitting diodes.
In the scanning apparatus with separate scanning and user interface regions, the scan sensor uses multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs). To scan the document scanning region, all LEDs are used for maximum illumination and image quality. However, to scan the user interface region and determine the movable user input's position, only a subset of the LEDs is used. This reduces power consumption and potential glare when capturing the pattern on the user input.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the movable user input is configured to move to a plurality of positions, each of the plurality of positions corresponding to a distinct pattern on the undersurface of the movable user input.
In the described scanning apparatus, the movable user input can be moved to many different positions. Each of these positions corresponds to a unique, recognizable pattern on the underside of the input. This allows for a wide range of settings and commands to be controlled through the single movable input, without requiring traditional electrical switches or encoders.
9. An apparatus comprising: a non-electric control device configured to move to at least two different positions via a user's mechanical input; a scan sensor configured to capture an image of at least a part of the non-electric control device; and a controller configured to process the captured image of the at least a part of the non-electric control device to determine a specific mechanical user setting by correlating the image to a position of the non-electric control device.
A scanning apparatus uses a non-electrical control device (like a dial or button) that a user moves manually to select a setting. A scan sensor captures an image of at least a portion of this control device. A controller analyzes the captured image to determine the specific mechanical setting selected by the user. This works by correlating the image of the control to its position, which corresponds to a specific setting.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the specific mechanical user setting is associated with a printing command selected from the group consisting of number of copies, type of image, start, or clear.
The scanning apparatus with a non-electric control described above, uses specific mechanical user setting, determined by scanning the device's image, to select a printing command. The command could be the number of copies to print, the type of image to print (e.g., photo, document), a start print command, or a clear command.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the non-electric control device includes a setting on a first side and one or more indicia on a second side.
The non-electric control device in the scanning apparatus, as previously described, has a functional setting indicated on one side (visible to the user), and one or more identifying marks ("indicia") on the opposite side. The scan sensor images the indicia to determine the position, and therefore the function selected by the user on the visible side.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the non-electric control device includes an extendable member movable to a first position and a second position, wherein the extendable member is detectable by the scan sensor at the first position, and wherein the extendable member is undetectable by the scan sensor at the second position.
The non-electric control device in the scanning apparatus described previously includes an extendable member that can be moved to two positions: extended or retracted. The scan sensor can detect the extendable member when it is in the extended position, but cannot detect it when it is retracted. This on/off presence detection is used to determine the setting of the control device.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the non-electric control device includes a dome type switch with a visual pattern detectable by the sensor to determine whether the dome-type switch is at a first setting or a second setting.
In the scanning apparatus with the non-electric control device, the control device is a dome-type switch that provides tactile feedback when pressed. The dome switch has a visual pattern on it that the sensor can detect. By analyzing the pattern, the apparatus determines whether the dome-type switch is in the pressed (first) setting or the unpressed (second) setting.
14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the non-electric control device includes a sliding arm arranged so that the sliding arm is laterally displaceable to a plurality of different positions corresponding to a plurality of different settings.
The non-electric control device in the scanning apparatus, described previously, is a sliding arm. The sliding arm can be moved sideways (laterally) to various positions. Each position corresponds to a unique setting or command. The scan sensor captures the image of the sliding arm, and the controller interprets its position to determine the selected setting.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the non-electric control device is configured to move to a plurality of positions, each of the plurality of positions corresponding to a distinct pattern on at least a part of a respective non-electric control device.
As described in the scanning apparatus, the non-electric control device can be moved to many different positions. Each position has a different pattern or visual indicator on at least a part of the device. The scan sensor detects these distinct patterns. Based on the identified pattern, the device determines the intended position or function of the control device.
16. A method comprising: receiving a user input via a position of at least one control device, wherein the at least one control device includes a control device with a pattern on an undersurface of the control device; obtaining an image of the pattern using a scan sensor; processing the image to identify the pattern from a plurality of possible patterns; and determining the position of the at least one control device based on the identified pattern.
A method for receiving user input involves using a control device that has a pattern on its underside. First, an image of the pattern is captured using a scan sensor. Next, the image is processed to identify the pattern from a set of known patterns. Finally, the position of the control device is determined based on the identified pattern.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising obtaining an object image through a glass plate using the scan sensor, wherein the scan sensor is configured to operate in a first resolution when obtaining the object image and configured to operate in a second resolution when obtaining the image of the pattern, wherein the second resolution is lower than the first resolution.
The method described above includes obtaining an image of an object through a glass plate using the same scan sensor. The scan sensor operates in a high resolution mode when capturing the object image. It operates in a lower resolution mode when capturing the image of the pattern on the control device. This lower resolution reduces processing time for identifying the control device position.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising: obtaining an object image through a glass plate using the scan sensor, wherein the scan sensor includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein the scan sensor is configured to scan the object image using the plurality of light emitting diodes and configured to scan the image of the pattern using a subset of the plurality of light emitting diodes.
In the method of receiving user input as described, an object image is obtained through a glass plate using the scan sensor. The scan sensor has several LEDs. All the LEDs are used to capture the object image with full illumination. Only a subset of the LEDs is used to capture the pattern image on the control device.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one control device includes: an extendable member movable to a first position and a second position, wherein the extendable member is detectable by the scan sensor at the first position, and wherein the extendable member is undetectable by the scan sensor at the second position; and a sliding arm arranged so that the sliding arm is laterally displaceable to a plurality of different positions corresponding to a plurality of different settings.
The method of receiving user input, where the control device has a pattern on its underside, uses a control device that includes both: an extendable member that is detectable in a first position but undetectable in a second position, AND a sliding arm that can be moved sideways to different positions corresponding to different settings. The scan sensor captures the state of these elements to determine the input.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the control device is configured to move to a plurality of positions, each of the plurality of positions corresponding to a distinct pattern on at least a part of the non-electric control device.
In the method of using a pattern on a control device to receive user input, the control device can be positioned in many different positions. Each position corresponds to a unique pattern on at least a part of the control device. The scanning apparatus identifies this pattern and determines the position and intended action from this unique pattern.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
August 30, 2010
July 30, 2013
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.